Police recovered 20kg of cannabis after stopping him in a Ford Transit van heading north on the M74 motorway.

Two cardboard boxes contained vacuum-packed bags of herbal cannabis.

Officers found 3.25kg of cocaine during a search at Molloy’s Coatbridge home, along with £370 and parts for a hydraulic press. The cocaine could have realised £325,000 on the streets and the cannabis up to £300,000. At the High Court in Edinburgh, Judge Lady Scott told Molloy: “You were acting as a courier for an organised crime group.

Derek Nardone was jailed after being caught with 5kg of cocaine (Image: Handout)

“Whilst your role was not a leading one, these offences involved substantial amounts of drugs.”

Molloy earlier admitted supplying cocaine and cannabis last December 29. Both offences were aggravated by links with serious organised crime.

Nardone, of Larkhall, Lanarkshire, was jailed at the High Court in Glasgow after being caught with 5kg of cocaine.

Police executing a search warrant at his home discovered a holdall containing five blocks of cocaine with a street value of £500,000.